Kiko Alonso is Exactly What the Buffalo Bills Have Been Missing at Linebacker

By Scott DelleFave

Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

On day two of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected linebacker Kiko Alonso with their second of two second round picks.

The versatile Alonso stands 6′ 3.5″ and weighs in just under 240 lbs. who simply loves contact no matter what, which could be good or bad. The reason he’s the linebacker that the Bills have been missing is that he seems like a prototype in what new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine Jr. expects out of his linebackers. Besides his versatility, he is an exceptional coverage linebacker whom had four interceptions for the University of Oregon Ducks last season. Alonso also has that non-stop motor that coaches salivate over.

While Alonso has had character issues in the past involving alcohol, it seems that they are part of his past and will not impact his future. Since he also has overcame a torn ACL in 2010, and has had been suspended from the team for parts of his career for the aforementioned character issues, Alonso might have not hit his full potential despite only starting 17 games in college football. It also seems that Alonso was one of the main reasons why third overall pick Dion Jordan seemed to show up on nearly every team’s radar as a must have prospect.

All and all, time will tell how much or how little Alonso performs, however, it seems like he went to the right coaching staff that appreciates his hard aggressive playing style. This wouldn’t be the case even a season ago under the old Bills regime of coaches in Chan Gailey and Dave Wannstedt.